TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average fell 0.2 percent, while the broader Topix was almost unchanged on Tuesday.
The following stocks were on the move:
**SANRIO JUMPS AFTER LIFTING FULL-YEAR FORECAST**
Sanrio Co Ltd jumped 3.3 percent to 816 yen after it lifted its operating profit forecast by 47.6 percent for the year ending in March, citing a strong performance in Europe, where it licenses out its Hello Kitty character to apparel makers like H&M .
The company said it now expects an operating profit of 9 billion yen for the current financial year, up from 6.1 billion yen in the previous estimate. It said Hello Kitty is increasingly popular in countries like France and Italy.
0029 GMT
**TOYOTA GAINS; CASTS DOUBT ON 'RUNAWAY' PRIUS CLAIM**
Shares of Toyota Motor Corp rose 1.1 percent to 3,545 yen after the automaker said it had found no evidence to support the driver's version of a widely publicised 'runaway' Prius episode a week ago, suggesting that authorities examine whether the incident happened as reported to police.
Toyota's stock outperformed a 0.3 percent rise in the transport equipment subindex.
0006 GMT
(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)
((aiko.hayashi@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: aiko.hayashi.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81 3 6441 1802))
((If you have a query or comment on this story send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The following stocks were on the move:
**SANRIO JUMPS AFTER LIFTING FULL-YEAR FORECAST**
Sanrio Co Ltd jumped 3.3 percent to 816 yen after it lifted its operating profit forecast by 47.6 percent for the year ending in March, citing a strong performance in Europe, where it licenses out its Hello Kitty character to apparel makers like H&M .
The company said it now expects an operating profit of 9 billion yen for the current financial year, up from 6.1 billion yen in the previous estimate. It said Hello Kitty is increasingly popular in countries like France and Italy.
0029 GMT
**TOYOTA GAINS; CASTS DOUBT ON 'RUNAWAY' PRIUS CLAIM**
Shares of Toyota Motor Corp rose 1.1 percent to 3,545 yen after the automaker said it had found no evidence to support the driver's version of a widely publicised 'runaway' Prius episode a week ago, suggesting that authorities examine whether the incident happened as reported to police.
Toyota's stock outperformed a 0.3 percent rise in the transport equipment subindex.
0006 GMT
(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)
((aiko.hayashi@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: aiko.hayashi.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81 3 6441 1802))
((If you have a query or comment on this story send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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